The problems of the Middle-East have made a somewhat dramatic entry into the Indian Sub-Continent with the attack by Iran on Pakistan’s border area, followed by the latter’s retaliatory strikes. This comes after Iran’s strikes on Iraq and Syria, allegedly against Israeli intelligence bases.
There is concern that the Israel-Hamas conflict could go out of control and lead to conflict between other nations. Iran and the Houthis have been upping the stakes in the bid to pressure Israel. The attempt to blockade sea-routes in the region has already created ripples in the world economy. India, too, will face the consequences of higher transportation costs.
Iran does not just have problems with the ‘Satanic’ western nations, there is also a deeper Shia-Sunni conflict underway. Even in the exchange of hostilities with Pakistan, Iran described its target as a Sunni terrorist group. On the other hand, Pakistan made it clear that it was targeting ‘terrorists’ and not any race, religion, ethnicity or sect. This is because Pakistan identifies as an ‘Islamic’ country that accepts minorities, even if it does not actually practice it at home. Iran is outright Shia. It is ironic, in the meanwhile, that both countries are facing the same problem – Baloch separatism.
Pakistan’s identity crisis, shaped almost entirely by its need to set itself apart from India, has had a devastating effect on its foreign policy. As experts frequently point out, it continuously seeks ‘patronage’ from other powerful countries. It began with being a proxy for the US, then Saudi Arabia and, now, China. It supported the Taliban in Afghanistan but has ended up receiving hostility rather than gratitude. It has worked hard to sabotage India’s relations with Iran, but has, somehow, got into the present border conflict. The energy, time and energy used to target India with all this destructive diplomacy has meant there are no resources left to develop as a nation.
Iran must remember that Pakistan is not only a nuclear power, but also has a relatively more powerful military. There is no way that the Palestinians will be helped by creating further conflict. On its part, India will face another diplomatic dilemma if an immediate neighbour, Pakistan, and a ‘close friend’, Iran, should get into an extended stand-off. There are enough problems in the sub-continent, already, there is no need to import some from outside. Hopefully, Iran and Pakistan will realise there is no need to escalate matters and try for diplomatic solutions.
